Safety gate



J. J. KEENAN SAFETY GATE Nov. 17, 1931.

Filed April 24 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Jbhn flfeeuczfl/ BY WITN ESSES ATTOR N EY Nov. 17, 1931. J. J. KEENAN SAFETY GATE Filed April 24 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m H w.

H INVENTOR .10/1 11 .[ffeena u WITNESSES M ATTORNEYS Nov. 17, 1931. J. KEENAN SAFETY GATE Filed April 24 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIII/I/IIIIIIIIII/IIII/IIIIIIII/III INVENTOR (707th L7: Keencuo BY Er -v ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN JOSEPH KEENAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY GATE Application filed April 24,

This invention relates to safety gates.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a nOVel and improved safety gate for railroad crossings or the like.

g It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safety gate embodying vertically movable chain barriers which may be raised to prevent movement of traffic across a railroad crossing and are free to be moved by impact of a vehicle. r

A further object of the present invention to provide an electrically operated crossing bar-v rier including horizontally extending vertically movable chains.

Other important objects of the present invention include the novel combination and interrelation of parts and the electrical connections therefor, whereby the whole forms a novel, simple and improved device particularly adapted to meet the demands of economic manufacture.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a-perspective view of a railroad crossing embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the ac railroad crossing shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the operating mechanism when the gate is in lowered position Fig. 4 is a similar view with the gate in raised position Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the op'erating switch for the operating motor;

Fig. 6' is a vertical section through the crossing shown in Fig. 1';

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77. of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the switches of the assembly;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the solenoid switch:

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of the wiring used in connection with the present invention. 1

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be Seen that the present invention includes two pairs of vertically-extend- 1930. Serial No. 446,957.

ing supporting posts 10, which are adapted to be mounted on either side of a railroad crossing, each pair being aligned parallel with the tracks, The posts 10 are preferably U- shaped in cross section, their open sides facing the railroad crossing. lVithin the upper ends of the posts 10, pulley wheels 11 are provided, over which a chain 12 which forms the barrier of the crossing, moves. The opposite ends of the chain 12 are provided with suitable weights 13 which hold the chain in taut position across the crossing. For vertically moving the chain barriers, theyare provided with spaced operating chains 14, which pass over guide rollers 15 mounted below the tracks, their opposite ends being attached at diametrically opposite points on operating pulleys 16.

he arrangement is such that rotation of the pulleys 16 in clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 2 winds the chains 14 about the pulleys. thus moving the barrier chain 12 vertically downward. The ends of the chain move upwardly against the gravity of the weights 13 until the chain and the weights are in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, at which time the crossing is open for cross traflic. I v

For operating the chains 14, the pulleys 16 are mounted upon a transverse shaft 17. Eachend of the shaft is provided with one pulley 16, which functions as indicated in Fig. 2 to control one of the barrier chains 12. For driving the shaft 17, an electrical motor 7 18 is provided which drives through a worm gear 19, a suitable speed reducing chain of gears indicated by the numeral 20. which finally drives a main driving gear 21. The main driving gear 21 is provided with a spring-urged clutch disk 22 which is rotatable therewith and which bears against a. clutch plate 23 securely mounted for rotation upon the shaft 17. As shown in Fig. 7, the gear 21 is mounted for rotation with respect to the shaft 17. This arrangement of driving means provides for overrunning of the motor 18 a ter the barriers have reached their fully extended position. When the barriers are in such vertically raised poistion the weights 13 will rest upon the floor of the operating compartment under the tracks and further rotation of the shaft 17 will be prevented by contact of the extremity of the controlling arm 24 associated with the shaft 17. As will be hereinafter described, the arm 24 acts as a circuit controller for the motor circuit as well as a stop for over movement of the shaft 17.

For controlling the motor 18, a switch member 25 is provided as shown in Fig. 9. The switch 25 includes a main insulated base which is provided with springs 26 for rotating it into normal open position and the 1nsulated base is provided with a connecting arm 27 which is arranged for movement by a flange 28 on the common core of a pair of axially aligned spaced solenoid coils 2%). As indicated in the diagram of Fig. 10, the motor includes an energizing coil indicated by the numeral 30. The opposite ends of said coil are connected by suitable conductors 31 with spaced contacts 32 forming-part of the switch 25, and the insulated base of the switch includes a bifurcated conductor 33 and a central conductor 34. The bifurcated conductor is connected by a' conducting wire 35 with one side of the source of potential. while the central conductor 34 is connected by a wire 36 with the opposite s de of said source of potential. It will readily be seen that when the switch is pivotally moved in a clockwise dire t on as shown in Fig. 9, the conductor 34 will be connected with the lower con duct-or 32 and at the same time energy will he supplied from the wire 35 to the onposite conductor 32. Current will thus flow through the coil 30 in one direction. WVhen the opposite solenoid is energized the switch will be pivotallv moved in counter-clockwise direction. whereby similar connection will be made with the opposite arm of the bifurcated conductor and the current may flow through the motor in the opposite direction. Thus the motor is reversed and the rotation of the shaft 17 will be reversed for respective raisin! and lowering of the barrier chains 12.

For controlling the enereization of the solenoids. a vehic e-operated circuit controller is provided. as illustrated in Fig. 5. The circuit controller is indicated generally bv the numeral 37. as shown in Fig. 1, four being provided, one pair on opposite sides of the track at a dis nce spaced from the crossing. As shown in Fig. 5. the circuit control er includes a controller arm 38 which is adapted to be struck by a shoe 39 of a railroad car. Downward movement of the arm 38 by the shoe 39 makes a connection between the wires 40 and 41 through the arm 38.

By referring particularly to the circuit diagram of Fig. 10, it will be seen that enercv is supplied to the circuit from a suitable source of potential (not shown) to the oppositely polarized wires 42 and 43. When a train is approaching the crossing on the upper tracks, its shoe 39 will strike the upper right-hand circuit. closer 37, as indicated in Fig. 10. Energy will thus be supplied through the conductor 37 from the wire 42 through the wire 44 to the upper solenoid winding 29, and therethrough to the conductor 45 which completes the circuit by the wire 46 to the conductor 43. The upper solenoid 29 will thus be energized to move the switch in counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 10, or in clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 9. Such movement of the switch will connect the upper coil contact of the motor 18 with the bifurcated conductor 33 which is connected through the motor by a wire 47 with the wire 42. The opposite wire 43 is connected through the motor by a wire 48 to the central conductor 34 which by such movement of the switch is connected with the lower contact 32 of the coil 30. By this arrangement current will pass through the coil 30 in one direction and the motor will be operated to rotate the shaft 17 in clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2, to raise the barrier chains 12. When the train has passed the crossing, its shoe 39 will strike the opposite upper controller 37, which will supply current through the wire 49 to the opposite solenoid 29, thus reversing the movement of the switch and reversing the flow of current through the winding 30, whereby reverse rotation of the motor will take place and the barriers 12 will be re-' stored to their normal inoperative position.-

lt will be understood that the switch arm 38 is of such length that the passage of a train thereover will retain it in contact position long enough to fully raise the barriers. [is before mentioned overrunning of the motor will simply permit the clutch disk 22 to rotate with respect to the clutch plate 23 and the barriers will not move more than the required upward or downward movement.

On the other side of the tracks similar circuit controllers 37 are provided. A train moving in the opposite direction on the other rails will strike the lower left-hand circuit controller 37 first. which will complete the circuit between wires 50 and 51, thus energizing the upper solenoid 29, whereby the motor will be operated. to raise the barrier. When the train has crossed the crossing, the opposite controller 37 will be energized, whereby current will be supplied between the conductors 52 and 53 to the lower solenoid 29 and the motor will be reversed to restore the barrier to inoperative position.

For providing a visible signal for the crossing, signal posts 54 and 55 are provided. The signal post 54 is adapted to support a warning red signal light while the post provides a green signal light s owing that the crossing is open for traffic. For controlling the signal lights, a central pivoted switch plate 56 is provided which is normally urged by a spring 57 in counter-clockwise rotated position as indicated in Fig. 8. The

plate 56 is of conducting material and is as sociated with the wire 42 by a connecting wire 58. lhe spring 57 of the plate 56 normally urges the plate into contact with a contact 59 connected by a wire 60 to the green signal light supported on the post 55 and indicated by the numeral 61. lFhe return circuit for the lamp 61 is provided by a wire 62 connected with the wire 43. It will thus be seen that in normal position, the green light 61 is illuminated when the barriers 12 have been lowered and the shaft 17 has been moved so that the arm 24 will strike the raised end ofthe plate 57. As indicated in Fig. 6, the circuit between the plate 56 and the conductor 60, will-thus be broken and a circuit will be established between the plate 56 and a wire 63 which leads to the red signal lamp indicated by the numeral 64. The lamp 64 is also connected with the wire 43 by a wire 65. Thus when the barriers are raised to operative position closing the crossing, the

' lamp 64 will be illuminated.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that the present invention provides a hovel and improved crossing control apparatus for railroad crossings or the like. It will be understood that the invention is not confined to reversible motor, a shaft reversibly driven by said motor, and a pair of operating chains connected with each of said barrler chains and means guiding said barrier chains forsaid chains for vertically moving them to operative position, said means including a reversible motor, a shaft reversiblydriven by said motor, a pair of operating chains connected with each of said barrier chains and means guiding said barrier chains for movement in response to rotation of said shaft in paths to maintain that portion of the barrier chains taut which lies between the operating chains, said operating chains having one end connected with pulleys mounted on said shaft, and a friction clutch mechanism between said motorand said shaft for permitting overrunning of said motor.

3. A crossing safety gate, including a pair of parallel spaced barrier chains mounted for vertical movement on either side of a railroad crossing, and means associated with said chains for vertically moving them to operativeposition, said means including a reversible motor, a shaft reversibly driven by said motor, a pair of operating chains connected with each of said barrier, chains and means guiding said barrier chains for movement in response to rotation of said shaft in paths to maintain that portion of the barrier chains taut which lies between the operating chains, said operating chains having one end connected, with pulleys mounted on said shaft, a friction clutch mechanism between said motor and said shaft for permitting overrunning of said motor, and tension weights associated with the ends of said barrier chains for permitting said barrier chains to move upwardly upon unwinding of said operating chains by rotation of said shaft.

4. A crossing safety gate, including a pair of parallel spaced barrier chains mounted for vertical movement on either side of a railroad crossing, and means associated with said chains for vertically moving them to operative position, said means including a reversible motor, a. shaft reversibly driven by said motor, a pair of operating chains connected with said barrier chains for movement in response to rotation of said shaft, said operating chains having one end connected with pulleys mounted on said shaft, means for guiding the ends of said operating chains which are attached to the barrier chains whereby to maintain the barrier portions of the barrier chains taut, and a circuit for energizing saidmotor.

5. A crossing safety gate, including a pair of parallel spaced barrier chains mounted for vertical movement on either side of a railroad cross ng, and means associated with said chains for'vertically moving them to operative position, said means including a reversible motor, a shaft reversibly driven by said motor, operating chains connected with said barrier chains for movement in response to rotation of said shaft, said operating chains having one end connected with pulleysmounted on said shaft, and a circuitf r energizing said motor, said circuit including a reversing switch and solenoids having a common core and a connection between said core and the switch for controlling said switch.

6. A barrier for railway crossings including a barrier chain traversing the crossing at each side of the railway, a pair of upstand ing supports for each chain havin a guide at the upper end over which said 0 aims are trained, a weight at the opposite end of each chain for normally moving the same to an active elevated obstructing position, a pair of operating chain sections each connected at the upper end respectively with each barrier chain adjacent the guides, a drum to which the lower end of each pair of operating chains is connected, a guide for each operating chain spaced below and in vertical alignment with its connected upper end and interposed between said upper end and the drum. and acommon means for turning the drums in unison in one direction to move the barrier chains to an inactive lowered position and to permit of their movement by the weights to an active elevated position,

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 22d day of April A. D. 1930.

JOHN JOSEPH KEENAN. 

